IPL Auction 2022: 5 teams that should sign Ajinkya Rahane

3. Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR can look at Rahane as a potential captaincy pick

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are in need of a captain and also an opener following Shubman Gill’s departure. Rahane brings both these attributes to the table and hence could be someone who is on KKR’s radar in the auction.

Throughout the years, Rahane has thrived while playing against pacers and on pitches that provide some assistance to quicker bowlers.

He is a batsman who likes the ball coming on to the bat and plays expansive shots to yield runs out of such deliveries.

Even in the recent series vs South Africa, Rahane looked in fine touch on quite a few occasions.

He scored runs through some outrageous strokes during the half-century in Johannesburg. Thus, the limited-overs format can give him the license to get in the groove and regain his mojo.

Moreover, his leadership will greatly benefit KKR, who have a mix of good young talent and some experienced stars in their ranks. In search of their third IPL title, the team can get a shrewd captain and a very fine opener in Rahane.

4. Lucknow Super Giants

The RPSG Group is familiar with Rahane due to his stint with their Pune franchise

Trust and reliance are key elements upon which successful franchises build their legacy.

The likes of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) have formed their squads with players who share mutual respect with the management.

Rahane has been associated with the RPSG group in the past and had two fruitful seasons for the erstwhile Rising Pune Super Giant.

As of now, there is a dearth of quality domestic middle-order batsmen in the cricketing circuit. Hence, accommodating Indian batsmen at the top gives the teams room to bolster their lineup with international players in the middle.

Rahane can very well partner with KL Rahul at the top for Lucknow. The two of them are capable of shifting gears and adapting to different playing methods according to the demands of the situation. Going with Rahane in the opening spot could allow the new franchise to experiment well with other spots in the side.

5. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s re-emergence in the last two years was sparked by the introduction of Devdutt Padikkal to the setup. However, they arguably risk losing Padikkal for a big sum to some of the other sides in the next auction.

They need a captain after Virat Kohli stepped down from the role and Rahane ticks all the necessary boxes over here.

Kohli and Rahane have worked in tandem with tremendous success over the years, with the latter serving as the former’s deputy in the longest format.

They share a brilliant camaraderie and that factor will make the captaincy transition much smoother for the RCB.

Further, Rahane will relish playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and can slot seamlessly into the opening position as well. He has the caliber to lead star players like Kohli and Maxwell and build a team that can finally lift the title in the future.

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